Gerry O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Gerald O'Brien is a retired Scottish
professional footballer, who played as a substitute during the FA Cup
run of Southampton
in 1976
.
and trained as a bricklayer, playing his youth football with Drumchapel
Amateurs before joining local club Clydebank
in May 1968. At Clydebank, he was only a part-time professional but was spotted by Southampton
's scout (and former player) Campbell Forsyth
. O'Brien was also attracting interest from Coventry City
and Nottingham Forest
so the Saints' manager Ted Bates
travelled to Glasgow himself to watch him (in a 1–1 draw with East Fife
). Bates liked what he saw and signed O'Brien that same evening for £22,500, a then record for the Scottish Second Division.
debut at The Dell on 11 March 1970 in a 1–0 defeat by Liverpool
replacing the injured Terry Paine
on the right wing. Bates had justified the large fee to the board of directors claiming that once O'Brien trained full-time, "he could become a younger version of Paine".
According to Chalk & Holley, "the little Scotsman was a clever, skilful player who at times looked capable of turning a game completely, although his slight build appeared to handicap him." After a few intermittent appearances, he replaced Brian O'Neil
at inside-right in December 1971 and retained his place for the rest of the season. He scored one of his few goals against Derby County
on 8 January 1972 with shot from outside the area. At the start of the next season
, O'Neil regained his place and O'Brien again spent much of his time in the reserves.
He spent the end of the 1973–74 season on loan to Bristol Rovers
before returning to Southampton for the start of the 1974 season. Although not a regular first team player, he was selected for a Texaco Cup
match at Ibrox
against Rangers
on 18 September 1974, and scored the third goal, a tap in from inside the box. It was not until November 1974 that he again had a long spell in the Southampton first team (now in the Second Division) with a run of fifteen games, this time replacing Paul Gilchrist
. He scored his second league goal with a header against Cardiff City
on 22 April 1975. He retained his place for the start of the following season
, but then lost his place to his good friend and fellow Glaswegian, Hugh Fisher
. His only involvement for the rest of the season was as a substitute, including appearances in the FA Cup
fourth and fifth round matches against Blackpool
and West Bromwich Albion
.
In March 1976, he was offered a move to Swindon Town
and accepted what he described as "a good offer" from manager Danny Williams. In his seven years with the Saints, he made a total of 96 appearances, scoring three goals.
was not a great success, missing a lot of games as a result of a cartilage injury. In 1977 he was given a free transfer back to Clydebank before finishing his career at Hibernian
, quitting football in 1979 with arthritis
.
, in West Dumbartonshire with his wife, Maureen and has two sons. After a hip replacement, he is now a regular golfer.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer, who played as a substitute during the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run of Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1976
FA Cup Final 1976
The 1976 FA Cup Final took place on 1 May 1976 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Manchester United and Southampton.United had finished third in the First Division that season, and were strong favourites, while unfancied Southampton had finished sixth in the Second Division...
.
Early career
O'Brien was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and trained as a bricklayer, playing his youth football with Drumchapel
Drumchapel
Drumchapel , known to locals and residents as 'The Drum', is part of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire in 1938. It borders Bearsden to the east and Clydebank to the west . The area is bordered by Knightswood and Yoker in Glasgow. The name derives from the...
Amateurs before joining local club Clydebank
Clydebank F.C.
Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
in May 1968. At Clydebank, he was only a part-time professional but was spotted by Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
's scout (and former player) Campbell Forsyth
Campbell Forsyth
Robert Campbell Forsyth is a retired Scottish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper for St. Mirren, Kilmarnock and Southampton. He also made four appearances for Scotland in 1964.-Early career:...
. O'Brien was also attracting interest from Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
so the Saints' manager Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
travelled to Glasgow himself to watch him (in a 1–1 draw with East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
). Bates liked what he saw and signed O'Brien that same evening for £22,500, a then record for the Scottish Second Division.
Southampton
He made his Division OneFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
debut at The Dell on 11 March 1970 in a 1–0 defeat by Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
replacing the injured Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
on the right wing. Bates had justified the large fee to the board of directors claiming that once O'Brien trained full-time, "he could become a younger version of Paine".
According to Chalk & Holley, "the little Scotsman was a clever, skilful player who at times looked capable of turning a game completely, although his slight build appeared to handicap him." After a few intermittent appearances, he replaced Brian O'Neil
Brian O'Neil (footballer born 1944)
Brian O'Neil is a former footballer who played for Burnley, Southampton and Huddersfield Town in the 1960s and 1970s.-References:...
at inside-right in December 1971 and retained his place for the rest of the season. He scored one of his few goals against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 8 January 1972 with shot from outside the area. At the start of the next season
1972-73 in English football
The 1972–73 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League announced that a three-up, three-down system would operate between the top two divisions from the following season, rather than the traditional two-up, two-down system...
, O'Neil regained his place and O'Brien again spent much of his time in the reserves.
He spent the end of the 1973–74 season on loan to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
before returning to Southampton for the start of the 1974 season. Although not a regular first team player, he was selected for a Texaco Cup
Texaco Cup
The Texaco Cup was an association football competition involving clubs from England, Ireland and Scotland that had not qualified for European competitions. Irish clubs withdrew from the competition after 1971-72 due to political pressure, and in 1973-74 and 1974-75 competed in a separate Texaco Cup...
match at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
on 18 September 1974, and scored the third goal, a tap in from inside the box. It was not until November 1974 that he again had a long spell in the Southampton first team (now in the Second Division) with a run of fifteen games, this time replacing Paul Gilchrist
Paul Gilchrist
Paul Anthony Gilchrist is a former footballer, who won the FA Cup with Southampton in 1976.-Early career:Gilchrist was a Charlton apprentice and played 7 league games for them...
. He scored his second league goal with a header against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on 22 April 1975. He retained his place for the start of the following season
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
, but then lost his place to his good friend and fellow Glaswegian, Hugh Fisher
Hugh Fisher (Footballer)
Hugh Donnelly Fisher is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Southampton between 1966 and 1976 and was a substitute in the 1976 FA Cup Final.-Early career:...
. His only involvement for the rest of the season was as a substitute, including appearances in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fourth and fifth round matches against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
.
In March 1976, he was offered a move to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and accepted what he described as "a good offer" from manager Danny Williams. In his seven years with the Saints, he made a total of 96 appearances, scoring three goals.
Later career
His move to SwindonSwindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
was not a great success, missing a lot of games as a result of a cartilage injury. In 1977 he was given a free transfer back to Clydebank before finishing his career at Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, quitting football in 1979 with arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
.
Life after football
After leaving football, he started a building business in Glasgow before settling in DuntocherDuntocher
Duntocher is a village in Dunbartonshire, Scotland.Although it is a far older settlement and still considered a village in its own right, it is administratively part of nearby Clydebank along with the neighbouring village of Hardgate and is now part of the West Dunbartonshire local authority area...
, in West Dumbartonshire with his wife, Maureen and has two sons. After a hip replacement, he is now a regular golfer.